BBC listeners want right to kill burglars

If listeners of the Today programme could introduce a new law to Britain, it would be one allowing them to kill an intruder in their home should the need arise.

That was the surprise - and, in the programme's own word, controversial - choice of listeners who voted for the piece of legislation they would most like to see in the statute book.

The audience for the Radio 4 programme were asked to put forward ideas that had a real chance of becoming law. Five were shortlisted and more than 26,000 took part in the final vote.

The winning idea, announced yesterday, would authorise home-owners to use any means to defend their properties from intruders. It received 37 per cent of the vote.

It narrowly beat a proposed Bill making it mandatory for individuals to offer their organs for transplant after death, unless they specifically opted out.

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Miranda Holt, the assistant editor of Today, said yesterday: "It is a controversial decision, I admit. We have received quite a lot of emails from our listeners about the result and some are horrified. None of us knew how the voting would turn out, but this shows there are a lot of people who are concerned about their properties.

"What surprised us more than anything, however, was the number of people who voted. Our listeners are certainly not apathetic."

After hearing the outcome he said he would do the same thing again in similar circumstances.

He told the programme: "People now know what is going on and they are taking notice.

"It is heinously wrong that you should live in fear in your home. That if somebody breaks in you are going to have the law jump down on you. It is just not right."

Asked whether he would do the same thing again, he said: "In the same circumstances, yes, if I am terrorised. People are highly jeopardised in this country. We are looking bloody stupid in the world."

The other shortlisted Today proposals included a law to ban all Christmas advertising and the erection of municipal street decorations before Dec 1, which won five per cent of the vote.

A law to limit to two the number of terms a Prime Minister could serve and to make it compulsory to vote in general elections won nine per cent, while a law to ban smoking in all work places won 20 per cent.

Ms Holt admitted yesterday that the winning proposal was unlikely to become law, as did Stephen Pound, the Labour MP for Ealing North who has volunteered to persuade a colleague to promote the idea as a Private Member's Bill.

"My enthusiasm for democracy is slightly tempered to be perfectly honest," said Mr Pound.

"I can't remember who it was who said, 'The people have spoken - the bastards.' It is quite likely that this Bill is unworkable.

"In the end it depends on whether an MP is willing to take it forward. But just because Today listeners come up with the Tony Martin Memorial Bill doesn't mean it will become law."

Mr Pound preferred the runner-up and said he had already spoken about it to John Reid, the Health Secretary. "He is quite interested in it. We may be picking this one up as well."

Dr Evan Harris, the Liberal Democrat health spokesman, called on ministers to back the organ transplant idea. He said the Government should allow a free vote on the subject as part of an amendment to the Human Tissue Bill.

A vast array of ideas were put forward by Today listeners. Warren Edwardes suggested a No Small Print Bill. Hattie Brock, aged nine, suggested a Better School Dinners Bill, which would allow for pupils to eat chips only once a fortnight.

John Lee suggested Britain should adopt European time and Richard Tems said it should be illegal for employers to force their employees to work on nationally recognised public holidays.

Lynne Truss, the writer and broadcaster, wanted to legalise the defacing of public signs in order to improve grammar and Damon Albarn, of the pop group Blur, wanted to banish Pop Idol style "zombies".

One unnamed listener suggested that anyone caught towing a caravan should be beheaded.